Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense holidays, present participle holidaying, past tense, past participle holidayed
1. countable noun [oft on/fromN]
A holiday is a period of time during which you relax and enjoy yourself away from home. People sometimes refer to their holiday as their holidays.
[British]
I've just come back from a holiday in the United States.
We rang Duncan to ask where he was going on holiday.
Ischia is a popular seaside holiday resort.
We're going to Scotland for our holidays.
regional note: in AM, use vacation
Synonyms: vacation, leave, break, time off More Synonyms of holiday
2. countable noun
A holiday is a day when people do not go to work or school because of a religious or national festival.
New Year's Day is a public holiday throughout Britain.
He invited her to spend the Fourth of July holiday at his summer home on Fire Island.
Bad weather has caused dozens of flight cancellations over the holiday weekend.
Synonyms: festival, bank holiday, festivity, public holiday More Synonyms of holiday
3. See also bank holiday
4. plural noun [oft noun NOUN]
Theholidays are the time when children do not have to go to school.
[British]
...the first day of the school holidays.
regional note: in AM, use vacation
5. uncountable noun
If you have a particular number of days' or weeks' holiday, you do not have to go to work for that number of days or weeks.
[British]
Every worker will be entitled to four weeks' paid holiday a year.
regional note: in AM, use vacation
6. verb [oft cont]
If you are holidaying in a place away from home, you are on holiday there.
[British]
Sampling the local cuisine is one of the delights of holidaying abroad. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Vacant rooms on the campus were being used by holidaying families. [VERB-ing]
regional note: in AM, use vacation
holiday in British English
(ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ, -dɪ)
noun
1. (often plural) mainly British
a.
a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation
US and Canadian word: vacation
b.
(as modifier)
a holiday mood
2.
a day on which work is suspended by law or custom, such as a religious festival, bank holiday, etc
▶ Related adjective: ferial
verb
3. (intransitive) mainly British
to spend a holiday
Word origin
Old English hāligdæg, literally: holy day
Holiday in British English
(ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ)
noun
Billie. real name Eleanora Fagan; known as Lady Day. 1915–59, US jazz singer
Holiday in American English
(ˈhɑləˌdeɪ)
Billie(born Eleonora Fagan Holiday) 1915-59; U.S. jazz singer
also called Lady Day
holiday in American English
(ˈhɑləˌdeɪ)
noun
1.
holy day
2.
a day of freedom from labor; day set aside for leisure and recreation
3. [often pl.] Chiefly British
a period of leisure or recreation; vacation
4.
a day set aside by law or custom for the suspension of business, usually in commemoration of some event
adjective
5.
of or suited to a holiday; joyous; merry
the holiday spirit
verb intransitive
6. Chiefly British
to take a vacation or vacation trip
Word origin
< ME holidei, with shortened first vowel < OE hāligdæg: see holy & day
More idioms containing
holiday
a busman's holiday
Examples of 'holiday' in a sentence
holiday
Fingers crossed the couple will enjoy many more holidays together after this.
The Sun (2017)
They just look like any other school pupils out on their bikes during the school holidays.
The Sun (2016)
People are booking their summer holiday for next year now.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was their first holiday abroad together.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We take frequent holidays nearer to home for some winter sunshine.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My friend was away on holiday.
The Sun (2016)
Funnily enough, my very first holidays were working ones.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are discounts on flights and holidays to more than 100 destinations worldwide.
The Sun (2016)
If it was not renewed, the company would be unable to continue selling package holidays.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Demand for new video game releases was weaker than expected in the holiday period, it said.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It is to be enjoyed like a holiday trip.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The school sets homework for holiday periods and says it is within its rights to do this.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You only get one summer holiday a year.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There were none when she was on holiday for four weeks.
The Sun (2008)
It is your responsibility to leave your holiday home in the condition that you found it.
The Sun (2008)
They wash in and out so are perfect for festivals and sunny holidays.
The Sun (2014)
He spoke dreamily of his plans to whisk the beautiful blonde away on a holiday.
The Sun (2008)
Take time out to relax each day and have frequent holidays.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Many are taking advantage of the extra public holiday on offer.
The Sun (2011)
Workers can bank holidays in advance so they get paid while they are away.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We have not had a family holiday abroad since our youngest was born.
The Sun (2014)
Stock up on creative crafts for rainy bank holidays.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
You should always particularly try to avoid the first two weeks of the summer school holidays too.
The Sun (2011)
Older people are tiring of predictable package holidays.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The government should work with the holiday industry to find a way through.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Who would holiday in a place like this?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It suddenly dawns on you that holiday time is just around the corner.
The Sun (2015)
My holiday style is usually more colourful than my town style.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He aims to buy properties and enjoy a holiday.
The Sun (2014)
Failure to agree could spark industrial action in the peak summer holiday period.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The justices had effectively set the holidays to one side on the basis that they were in some way justified.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We must have spent about 8,000 a year on diving holidays.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
To be forced to spend your summer holiday in France is no terrible hardship.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Quotations
He capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth; he writes verses, he speaks of holiday, he smells April and MayWilliam ShakespeareThe Merry Wives of Windsor
A perpetual holiday is a good working definition of hellGeorge Bernard ShawParents and Children
Word lists with
holiday
America
In other languages
holiday
British English: holiday /ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ; -dɪ/ NOUN
A holiday is a period of time during which you relax and enjoy yourself away from home.
I've just come back from a holiday.
American English: vacation
Arabic: عُطْلَة
Brazilian Portuguese: férias
Chinese: 假日
Croatian: odmor
Czech: dovolená
Danish: ferie
Dutch: vakantie
European Spanish: vacaciones
Finnish: loma
French: vacances
German: Urlaub
Greek: διακοπές
Italian: vacanza
Japanese: 休暇
Korean: 휴일
Norwegian: ferie
Polish: urlop
European Portuguese: férias
Romanian: vacanță
Russian: отдых
Latin American Spanish: vacaciones
Swedish: semester
Thai: วันหยุด
Turkish: tatil
Ukrainian: канікули
Vietnamese: ngày nghỉ
All related terms of 'holiday'
holiday job
a temporary job taken by a person during their holidays from school, college or university
holiday pay
the salary a worker receives for days taken off work
holiday rep
A holiday rep is someone employed by a holiday company to help look after people when they are on holiday.
tax holiday
a period during which tax concessions are made for some reason ; examples include an export incentive or an incentive to start a new business given by some governments, in which a company is excused all or part of its tax liability
bank holiday
A bank holiday is a public holiday.
half holiday
a day of which either the morning or the afternoon is a holiday
holiday camp
In Britain , a holiday camp is a place which provides holiday accommodation and entertainment for large numbers of people.
holiday home
a home that people own in order to holiday in and that is in a different location to the home they usually live in
holiday-maker
a person who goes on holiday
holiday mood
Your mood is the way you are feeling at a particular time. If you are in a good mood , you feel cheerful . If you are in a bad mood , you feel angry and impatient .
holiday photo
A photo is the same as a → photograph .
legal holiday
any of several weekdays which are observed as national holidays
Roman holiday
entertainment or pleasure that depends on the suffering of others
boating holiday
a holiday spent sailing or travelling in a canal boat, cruiser , etc
cycling holiday
a holiday in which one cycles between destinations
federal holiday
a day which is a national holiday at the behest of the Federal Government
general holiday
a public holiday
holiday bargain
Something that is a bargain is good value for money, usually because it has been sold at a lower price than normal.
holiday clothes
the clothes worn and bought for travelling on holiday , such as swimwear, skiwear, or clothes for hot or cold weather , etc
holiday cottage
a cottage used for accommodation for a family, couple , etc, on holiday
holiday feeling
the positive feeling people experience while on holiday and during holiday periods such as the Christmas period
holiday island
An island is a piece of land that is completely surrounded by water.
holiday period
A period is a length of time.
holiday reading
Reading is the activity of reading books.
holiday resort
a place which is popular as a holiday destination
holiday spirit
the positive feeling people experience while on holiday and during holiday periods such as the Christmas period
holiday traffic
increased road traffic during holiday periods and public holidays
holiday village
a park with villas where holidaymakers stay and which has a central area with a shop , entertainment , etc
package holiday
a holiday arranged by a travel company in which your travel and accommodation are booked for you
payment holiday
a break taken from paying ( a debt etc) back
public holiday
a holiday observed over the whole country
skiing holiday
a holiday taken (esp to somewhere that it snows ) for the purpose of going skiing
walking holiday
a holiday on which you walk a lot , esp in the countryside
working holiday
a trip , sometimes to another country, on which you work
activity holiday
a type of holiday in which holiday-makers can take part in many different organized activities, esp sports
adventure holiday
a holiday that involves some physically challenging activity such as canoeing , rock climbing , etc
busman's holiday
If you have a holiday, but spend it doing something similar to your usual work, you can refer to it as a busman's holiday .
holiday brochure
A brochure is a magazine or thin book with pictures that gives you information about a product or service.
national holiday
a day's holiday in a country that celebrates the country itself
statutory holiday
a public holiday ; a holiday all workers are entitled to
a busman's holiday
a situation in which someone spends part of their holiday doing or experiencing something that forms part of their normal job or everyday life
holiday accommodation
Accommodation is used to refer to buildings or rooms where people live or stay .
holiday destination
The destination of someone or something is the place to which they are going or being sent.
holiday entitlement
the number of days of paid holiday in a year that a worker is entitled to take
tour director
a person who represents a travel agency or holiday company at a holiday destination and interacts with customers , provides answers to queries , organizes tours , etc
vacationer
Vacationers are people who are on vacation in a particular place.
holidaymaker
A holidaymaker is a person who is away from their home on holiday .
March break
a school holiday , usually for a week , during March
to take your full holiday entitlement
if a worker takes their full holiday entitlement they take off the maximum number of days of paid holiday they are entitled to
Chinese translation of 'holiday'
holiday
(ˈhɔlɪdeɪ) (Brit)
n(c/u)
假期 (jiàqī) (个(個), gè)
美 = vacation
the school/summer/Christmas holidays (Brit, Scol) 学(學)校/暑/圣(聖)诞(誕)假期 (xuéxiào/shǔ/Shèngdàn jiàqī)
如果能支付得起的话(話)，我们(們)就去度假了 rúguǒ néng zhīfù de qǐ de huà, wǒmen jiù qù dùjià le
he can't afford his rent, let alone a holiday
他付不起房租，更别(別)提度假了 tā fù bù qǐ fángzū, gèng bié tí dùjià le
1 (noun)
Definition
a period of time spent away from home for enjoyment and relaxation
I've just come back from a holiday in the United States.
Synonyms
vacation
During the vacation I visited Costa Rica.
leave
Why don't you take a few days' leave?
break
They are currently taking a short break in Spain.
time off
recess
Parliament returns to work today after its summer recess.
away day
schoolie (Australian)
accumulated day off or ADO (Australian)
staycation or stacation (informal)
2 (noun)
Definition
a day on which work is suspended by law or custom, such as a bank holiday
New Year's Day is a public holiday throughout Britain.
Synonyms
festival
the Jewish festival of the Passover
bank holiday
festivity
The festivities included a firework display.
public holiday
fête
The Vicar is organizing a church fete.
celebration
There was a celebration in our house that night.
anniversary
feast
The feast of Passover began last night.
red-letter day
mela
name day
saint's day
gala
a gala at the Royal Opera House
related words
related adjectiveferial
Quotations
He capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth; he writes verses, he speaks of holiday, he smells April and May [William Shakespeare – The Merry Wives of Windsor]A perpetual holiday is a good working definition of hell [George Bernard Shaw – Parents and Children]